My Youth Romantic Comedy Is Wrong As Expected

Page 585

Miura (tentative name) spoke sharply, his razor-sharp gaze suddenly falling on Yukino.

"--The same to you."

To be precise, it wasn't Yukino—

"Ah, ah, ah..."

The bespectacled boy next to her trembled as if he had been stabbed.

He knew I was the one who asked him to come? How could that be? What should I do next?

Talking to Yukino so frequently will naturally arouse suspicion that I have ties to the Service Club. You should have noticed that I haven't been replying to you.

"Alright, quickly arrange the chess pieces."

As soon as the pieces were placed back into their initial configuration, Miura (tentative name) suddenly raised them high.

There were no greetings, nor was the start of the match announced.

The first move was to slam the piece onto the board, sending Hachiman's piece flying. Then, he pulled over the adjacent table, causing pieces from other boards to fall to the ground and mingle with the original pieces.

Then press the chess clock to start the countdown.

That despicable act—was undoubtedly what Hachiman had just done to the club members. Miura (tentative name) returned Hachiman's provocation to him exactly as it was.

Faced with the appalling state of the chessboard, Hachiman shook his head.

"...I see, I see."

Do you have a problem with that?

"No? How could that be? That's correct."

Miura (tentative name) stared at Hachiman, who twisted a smile at the corner of his mouth.

"Ah, ah, ah..."

The pale-faced boy with glasses was so frightened that his lips were trembling, but he still did his job as a commentator.

The other club members all had ranks, but this guy is special. He's an amateur 5-dan, and he even represented Chiba Prefecture in the national tournament as a high school student. At my level, even if he gave me a handicap of rook and corner pieces, I'd still lose badly.

Yukino completely ignored it, but the title of "Chiba Representative" is pretty cool. Just having "Chiba Representative" in your name makes you look cool. For example, "Chiba Representative Cat" would be fantastic. Unfortunately, now isn't the time to think about those things.

In extremely rare circumstances, something may have a higher priority than a cat.

For example—enjoy the match that has turned into a fierce brawl.

Miura (tentative name) is probably a very competitive person.

The moment Hachiman makes a move, he will quickly follow up with his own. He will flick Hachiman's pieces away, slam the chess clock, and directly retaliate against Hachiman's despicable schemes, whether on or off the chessboard.

An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth, and a venom for a venomous one.

"...Ah, ah, ah..."

"It's hopeless," the bespectacled boy muttered.

If an opponent with a significantly lower skill level uses the same tactics against you, you cannot win.

"--4 Wugui, 4 Wugui."

Furthermore, even if Hachiman flicks his piece far away, Miura (tentative name) will immediately speak up. If you can't place the piece on the board by hand, you can point to indicate which move you want to make; there's a rule like that in the official rules.

Hachiman, however, cannot follow the same pattern. Given his skill level, he needs to put the pieces back on the board before he can think of his next move. Therefore, his time will definitely be more limited than Miura's (tentative name).

The move played by Miura (tentative name) was indeed the most suitable for checkmating Hachiman.

Clap, clap. Whenever a chess piece falls or the chess clock shakes, the members shout loudly.

Drive that outcast to his death. Defeat that despicable scoundrel.

Snap, snap. Every time the sound of punching rang out, the club members would clench their fists.

Eliminate the wrong things. Don't let him join in before he's on the right path.

Yukino knows absolutely nothing about shogi.

But she could tell that Hachiman was really in a tough fight.

His body swayed slightly. His eyes were bloodshot, and his cheeks were flushed. He was fighting alone amidst so much criticism.

Lose. Lose. Lose. You wrong guy, lose!

Listening to the passionate chorus of the shogi club members, I felt a startling sense of alienation.

"...Hikigaya-san."

Yukino clenched her fists instinctively.

Even if the whole world ostracizes you. Even if the whole world has no expectations of you.

I'm all alone, but I can still sincerely pray for you sometimes.

Hachiman. Even if you're eccentric and unpopular, you're still mine—and only mine, Hachiman.

--come on.

At that moment, all the sounds disappeared.

competition is over.

No matter how hard Yukino looked at the board, she couldn't figure out who had won. She calculated that Yukino didn't seem to have all five cards. How could the winner be determined?

Yukino quickly looked around.

"...?"

Then he tilted his head in confusion.

The members of the shogi club around me also seemed confused about the situation.

Everyone was stunned, except for one person.

"I haven't logged off yet."

Only Hachiman wore a faint smile.

"...Huh? What?"

Miura (tentative name) asked in surprise, and Hachiman picked up the infantryman in the corner right in front of him.

Tap it on the edge of the chessboard, outside the squares.

"I was just pretending to play, and the chess clock only tapped the button next to it."

To the opponent, that action looked like the game was over. Miura (tentative name) had already judged it to be a race against time, with the two engaging in a high-speed brawl like boxers.

That's why he quickly made his next move—

"You've essentially taken two steps. You've lost."

"--What⁉"

"My application to join the company has been approved. Please take care of me in the future."

Miura (tentative name) was so angry that his face turned purple. It was a dangerous color.

"Just how despicable are you!"

He kicked over the chair and grabbed Hachiman by the collar. No one could stop him. It was impossible to stop him. Because all the club members shared the same feeling as Miura (tentative name). Having extra pieces, running out of time, and making two moves in a row—all these were despicable tactics used to lure people into committing fouls, and it would be strange if people just smiled and accepted it.

Just as he excitedly raised his fist—

"Okay, that's enough."

There was applause.

Everyone reflexively looked towards the doorway.

The advisor of the shogi club was standing there. I don't know when he arrived.

He walked slowly to the center of the office, dressed in a neat suit that complemented his tall, slender frame. He was the kind of person who naturally attracted attention. Miura (tentative name) immediately quieted down, probably because the other staff members were also looking at him differently.

In Hachiman's words, it would be the Hayama Hayato (tentative) type. The advisor clapped again, this time to applaud the winner.

"The match is over. That's it. It was a really interesting game."

Hayama (tentative name) stared straight at Hachiman and smiled at him.

"Your name is Penguin? I haven't thoroughly checked your chess strength... but I think you've practiced diligently for today's match. You're strong. You should be able to get even stronger."

Then, as if he understood everything, he glanced at the bespectacled employee.

"However, he's right. Shogi is about having a conversation with your opponent. Victory is justice, but that doesn't mean a just person can do anything. That's what you wanted to express, which is why you made the brilliant move of 'Call the Penguin', right?"

"Ah, ah, ah!"

"A shogi player cannot survive without strength. However, strength alone is meaningless. It seems my guiding principles were flawed, and I am truly sorry everyone."

The calm voice gently reached the hearts of the members.

With tears in their eyes and fists clenched, they naturally gathered around Ye Shan (tentative name).

The advisor glanced around at everyone and smiled slightly.

"We've all lost. So, shall we start over now?"

"Ah, ah, ah..."

"Because—real shogi is incredibly fun!"

Everyone cheered.

Miura (tentative), Totsuka (tentative), Zaimokuza (tentative), and Yuihama (tentative) hugged Hayama (tentative) together, crying and laughing. Some apologized to each other, and some reconciled.

Noble, righteous, and beautiful—all the essence of youth is condensed in this.

Hachiman, who had won all five battles, was left without a single person by his side.

"...Let's go back."

As usual, Hachiman got up and left on his own, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

The client said he would come back another day to formally thank him for his help. He also brought a letter of apology from all the club members, pleading with Hachiman, "Please, please don't join the shogi club."

Only the boy with glasses left the chessboard and pieces at the Service Society office.

It seems to be a small token of my appreciation.

After that, Hachiman never touched shogi again.

He worked so hard... and he fulfilled my wish.

She simply felt it was a waste for the chessboard to gather dust in the corner of the office desk; she felt absolutely no encouragement or comfort whatsoever.

"Should we play another game occasionally?"

Yukino stopped turning the pages of her book and glanced at Hachiman.

"...With you?"

"If you don't want it, then forget it."

Yukino did not explain why, so Hachiman tilted his head and looked away.

"...Okay, it's not impossible."

He didn't ask any more questions, nodded slightly, and began arranging the chess pieces into the initial configuration.

Yukino followed suit, clumsily arranging the pieces. You lose if you get five pawns, right?

"Then, please guide me."

"Um."

She bowed her head politely, and a brief response came from above. Seeing that he wasn't planning to look for the chess clock, he seemed more interested in playing the game properly this time than inducing someone to commit a foul.

Yukino waited in a daze, while Hachiman gave her a "Should I go first?" look. Yes, you go first. Because I don't really know much about shogi.

All I know is what Hachiman said before.

"Shogi, in the end, is a game where only skill matters."

There's no point in playing chess with the weak. Hachiman won't gain anything by playing chess with Yukino, who doesn't even understand the rules.

If that's the case, then what is this period of time?

It was purely on a whim, with no deeper meaning whatsoever.